1995–96 Orlando Magic season

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1995–96 Orlando Magic season
Division champions
Head coachBrian Hill
General managerJohn Gabriel
PresidentBob Vander Weide
Owner(s)Richard DeVos
ArenaOrlando Arena
Results
Record60–22 (.732)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishEastern Conference finals
(lost to Bulls 0–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWKCF
Sunshine Network
RadioWDBO
< 1994–95 1996–97 >

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Magic's seventh season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Magic signed free agent Jon Koncak.[2][3] Coming off their trip to the NBA Finals, where they were swept in four games by the Houston Rockets, the Magic won their second straight Atlantic Division title with a 60–22 record, a regular season record which still stands as the best in franchise history.[4] This despite missing Shaquille O'Neal for the first 22 games of the season due to a preseason thumb injury.[5][6][7][8] Penny Hardaway stepped up in O'Neal's absence and was awarded Player of the Month for November,[9] as the Magic got off to a 13–2 start, and later held a 34–14 record at the All-Star break.[10] At midseason, the team traded Jeff Turner to the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for Kenny Gattison, who never played for the Magic due to arm and neck injuries.[11][12][13] This season also saw three-point specialist Dennis Scott take a place in the league history books by scoring 267 three-point field goals, a single season record since broken by Stephen Curry. Scott set a then-record of 11 three-point field goals in a 119–104 home win against the Atlanta Hawks on April 18, 1996.[14][15][16]

Hardaway averaged 21.7 points, 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while O'Neal averaged 26.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 54 games, while being named to the All-NBA Third Team, and Scott provided the team with 17.5 points per game. In addition, Horace Grant provided with 13.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, while Nick Anderson contributed 14.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, and Brian Shaw contributed 6.6 points and 4.5 assists per game off the bench.[17] Both Hardaway and O'Neal were selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game,[18][19][20][21] while Grant made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Hardaway also finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting,[22][23][24] while O'Neal finished tied in ninth place.[22][25] This was also the only season of O'Neal's NBA career, where he hit his only career three-pointer in a 121–91 home win against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 16, 1996.[26][27][28]

Despite the franchise best record, the Magic were beaten by the top seed in the East, the dominant Chicago Bulls, who finished with a then all-time best record of 72–10. In the playoffs, the Magic would sweep the Detroit Pistons in three straight games in the Eastern Conference First Round.[29][30][31][32] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they defeated the 6th-seeded Hawks in five games,[33][34][35][36] despite losing Game 4 at The Omni in Atlanta, 104–99.[37][38][39]

The Eastern Conference finals matched up the Magic with the Bulls, the team they had eliminated in the previous year's playoffs. However, Grant went down with an elbow injury in Game 1, which the Magic lost on the road, 121–83, and he was out for the rest of the series.[40][41][42] The Magic suffered another painful blow when Anderson went down with a wrist injury in a 86–67 home loss in Game 3, and he was also out for the rest of the series.[43][44][45] The Bulls would be too strong as they swept the Magic in four straight games.[46][47][48][49] Thereby, the Magic became the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs in a sweep for three consecutive seasons since the 1950 Chicago Stags. The Bulls would defeat the Seattle SuperSonics in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fourth championship in six years.[50][51][52][53][54]

Following the season, the All-Star center O'Neal left the team, signing as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers after four seasons in Orlando,[55][56][57][58][59] and Gattison and Anthony Bowie were both released to free agency.

Draft picks[edit]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 25 David Vaughn PF  United States Memphis

Roster[edit]

1995–96 Orlando Magic roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G/F 25 Anderson, Nick 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–01–20 Illinois
G 10 Armstrong, Darrell Injured 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1968–06–22 Fayetteville State
F 24 Bonner, Anthony 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1968–06–08 Saint Louis
G 14 Bowie, Anthony 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–11–09 Oklahoma
F Gattison, Kenny Injured (IN) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1964–05–23 Old Dominion
F 54 Grant, Horace 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–07–04 Clemson
G 1 Hardaway, Penny (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1971–07–18 Memphis
C 45 Koncak, Jon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1963–05–17 SMU
C 32 O'Neal, Shaquille (C) 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 325 lb (147 kg) 1972–03–06 LSU
F 5 Royal, Donald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–05–22 Notre Dame
G/F 3 Scott, Dennis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 229 lb (104 kg) 1968–09–05 Georgia Tech
G 20 Shaw, Brian 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–03–22 UC Santa Barbara
G 22 Thompson, Brooks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1970–07–19 Oklahoma State
F 42 Vaughn, David 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973–03–23 Memphis
F 12 Wolf, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–12–17 North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 15, 1996

Roster Notes[edit]

Regular season[edit]

Season standings[edit]

Atlantic DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
yOrlando Magic6022.73212.037–423–1821–382
xNew York Knicks4735.57325.026–1521–2016–882
xMiami Heat4240.51230.026–1516–2513–1282
Washington Bullets3943.47633.025–1614–2710–1482
Boston Celtics3349.40239.018–2315–2612–1282
New Jersey Nets3052.36642.020–2110–318–1782
Philadelphia 76ers1864.22054.011–307–345–1982
Eastern Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1zChicago Bulls7210.87882
2yOrlando Magic6022.73212.082
3xIndiana Pacers5230.63420.082
4xCleveland Cavaliers4735.57325.082
5xNew York Knicks4735.57325.082
6xAtlanta Hawks4636.56126.082
7xDetroit Pistons4636.56126.082
8xMiami Heat4240.51230.082
9Charlotte Hornets4141.50031.082
10Washington Bullets3943.47633.082
11Boston Celtics3349.40239.082
12New Jersey Nets3052.36642.082
13Milwaukee Bucks2557.30547.082
14Toronto Raptors2161.25651.082
15Philadelphia 76ers1864.22054.082

Record vs. opponents[edit]

1995-96 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–3
Boston 0–4 2–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Charlotte 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 0–4 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1
Chicago 4–0 3–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 4–0
Cleveland 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Dallas 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1
Detroit 2–2 1–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–2
Golden State 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Indiana 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–0
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Miami 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 3–0 1–1 5–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–3 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3
Minnesota 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2
New Jersey 0–4 2–2 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 3–1 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2
New York 1–2 4–0 0–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
Orlando 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Philadelphia 1–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Portland 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2
San Antonio 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
Seattle 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1
Toronto 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1
Utah 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 4–0 1–1
Vancouver 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 0–2
Washington 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0

Playoffs[edit]

The Magic opened up their playoffs campaign on April 26 against the Detroit Pistons, a game they won convincingly 112-92 at home in the Orlando Arena. The Magic would also win Game 2 at home before clinching the series, and a sweep, of the Pistons in Game 3 away from home at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The second round put the Magic against the Atlanta Hawks. The Magic opened the series with two convincing wins at home, both with scoring margins greater than 20 points. The Magic carried this momentum into Game 3 away from home at the Omni, winning a closer fought match 102-96. The Hawks won Game 4, avoiding the sweep, but the Magic were too strong and won Game 5 at home to clinch the series 4-1.

The Eastern Conference finals saw the Magic face the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan, a team they had eliminated in the previous years playoffs. With Horace Grant out with an elbow injury from Game 1, the dominant Chicago Bulls would prove to be too strong for the Orlando this year, sweeping the series 4-0 and denying the Magic consecutive trips to the NBA finals.[46]


1996 playoff game log
First round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 26 Detroit W 112–92 Dennis Scott (23) Horace Grant (13) Brian Shaw (11) Orlando Arena
17,248
1–0
2 April 28 Detroit W 92–77 Shaquille O'Neal (29) Horace Grant (10) Penny Hardaway (8) Orlando Arena
17,248
2–0
3 April 30 @ Detroit W 101–98 Penny Hardaway (24) Horace Grant (16) Penny Hardaway (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,386
3–0
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 May 8 Atlanta W 117–105 Shaquille O'Neal (41) Shaquille O'Neal (13) O'Neal, Hardaway (6) Orlando Arena
17,248
1–0
2 May 10 Atlanta W 120–94 Shaquille O'Neal (28) Horace Grant (11) Penny Hardaway (7) Orlando Arena
17,248
2–0
3 May 12 @ Atlanta W 103–96 Shaquille O'Neal (24) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Penny Hardaway (6) Omni Coliseum
15,476
3–0
4 May 13 @ Atlanta L 99–104 Grant, Hardaway (29) Horace Grant (20) Penny Hardaway (11) Omni Coliseum
12,645
3–1
5 May 15 Atlanta W 96–88 Shaquille O'Neal (27) Shaquille O'Neal (15) O'Neal, Scott (4) Orlando Arena
17,248
4–1
Conference finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 May 19 @ Chicago L 83–121 Penny Hardaway (38) Shaquille O'Neal (6) Shaquille O'Neal (6) United Center
24,411
0–1
2 May 21 @ Chicago L 88–93 Shaquille O'Neal (36) Shaquille O'Neal (16) Brian Shaw (6) United Center
24,395
0–2
3 May 25 Chicago L 67–86 Penny Hardaway (18) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Hardaway, O'Neal (3) Orlando Arena
17,248
0–3
4 May 27 Chicago L 101–106 Hardaway, O'Neal (28) Shaquille O'Neal (9) Penny Hardaway (8) Orlando Arena
17,248
0–4
1996 schedule

Player statistics[edit]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season[edit]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs[edit]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and honors[edit]

League records[edit]

During the 1995–96 season, Dennis Scott set the record for most three-point field goals scored in a regular season with 267.[citation needed]

Transactions[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 1995-96 Orlando Magic
  2. ^ "Koncak Just Might Have O'Neal's Number". The Washington Post. October 7, 1995. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Povtak, Tim (October 3, 1995). "Magic Moves: Koncak In, - Bowie Out?". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  4. ^ "1995–96 Orlando Magic Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Diaz, George (October 25, 1995). "Shaq Hurts Thumb - May Miss 6 Weeks". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  6. ^ Wilbon, Michael (October 25, 1995). "O'Neal Has an Injury to Thumb". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "O'Neal Suffers Thumb Injury". Chicago Tribune. October 25, 1995. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Taylor, Phil (December 25, 1995). "He's Back, His Thumb Healed; Orlando's Shaquille O'Neal Returned to Action and Immediately Began Throwing His Weight Around". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "1995-96: Orlando Bullied". NBA.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Johnson, L.C. (February 23, 1996). "Magic Deal Turner to Grizzlies". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "Hardaway Heads for the Heat in Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 23, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  13. ^ Romano, John (February 28, 1996). "Strategy Was Bulls' Best Tool". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Scott Goes On a 3-Pointer Binge as Magic Slows Hawks". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 19, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  15. ^ "Scott Is Magic from 3-Point Range". United Press International. April 19, 1996. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  16. ^ Johnson, L.C. (May 8, 1996). "Scott, O'Neal Are Big Game for Hawks". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "1995–96 Orlando Magic Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  18. ^ Bembry, Jerry (January 31, 1996). "NBA Coaches Recognize Howard's Star Quality; Bullets' 2nd-Year Player Named Eastern Reserve". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  19. ^ Heisler, Mark (February 11, 1996). "NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "1996 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
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  23. ^ "Jordan Wins 4th MVP". Tampa Bay Times. May 21, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  24. ^ Nadel, Mike (May 21, 1996). "Jordan's MVP Price Tag: $18 Million a Year". South Coast Today. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  25. ^ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
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  28. ^ Turner, Tim (February 17, 1996). "O'Neal Puts 3 in His Arsenal". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  29. ^ "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Magic Gets First Sweep by Finishing Off Pistons". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
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  33. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 16, 1996). "NBA PLAYOFFS; Dream Matchup Is Finally Complete". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
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  39. ^ "Smith Pours In 35 as Hawks Top Magic". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. May 14, 1996. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  40. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 20, 1996). "NBA PLAYOFFS; Rodman and Bulls Send Magic Up in Smoke". The New York Times. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  41. ^ Adande, J.A. (May 20, 1996). "Bulls Turn Magic's Dream Into a Nightmare, 121-83". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  42. ^ Smith, Sam (May 23, 1996). "Grant to Disappear from Series with Injury". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  43. ^ Wise, Mike (May 26, 1996). "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Bulls Whip Magic Soundly and Close In on Sweep". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  44. ^ Adande, J.A. (May 26, 1996). "Bulls Go All Out in Rout". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  45. ^ Johnson, L.C. (May 26, 1996). "Chicago 86, Orlando 67". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  46. ^ a b Wise, Mike (May 28, 1996). "N.B.A PLAYOFFS; Jordan Wields the Broom as Bulls Sweep the Magic". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  47. ^ Heisler, Mark (May 28, 1996). "Jordan Knows Tricks to Make Magic Vanish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  48. ^ Armour, Terry (May 28, 1996). "Beasts of the East: Bulls 106, Magic 101". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
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  50. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 17, 1996). "N.B.A. FINALS; After a Few Anxious Days, Jordan and Bulls Get Their Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  51. ^ "Bulls Drown Out SuperSonics, 87-75". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 17, 1996. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  52. ^ Hirsley, Michael (June 17, 1996). "Game 6 Telecast Brings Happy Ending Home". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  53. ^ Judd, Ron C. (June 17, 1996). "Not This Time -- Sonic Hopes End 87-75 as Bulls Win Fourth Title". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
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